EXPEIRIMENTS IN PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE. 2/ 



of the Station in 1891-3. (Reports for 1891-3, Bulletins 8 and 

 52; and How to Fight Apple Enemies.) 



THE BLUEBERRY. 



There are vast areas in Maine which, while bearing a consid- 

 erable number of blueberry bushes and yielding a profitable 

 return to the few people who make a practice of gathering the 

 wild fruit, are not utilized as they might be. Systematic treat- 

 ment in the way of burning, planting and managing might with 

 profit be given to these lands and extended to other sections. 



Another phase of the subject which is worthy of careful atten- 

 tion is that of domestication and the improvement of types by 

 selection and crossing. The fruit in its wild state is superior to 

 that of most other small fruits, and is very susceptible to the 

 influence of environment. Systematic experiments in this direc- 

 tion are in progress at the Station. The most promising species 

 for this work is the high-bush blueberry, Vaccinium corymho- 

 sum. (Report for 1898 and Bulletin 76.) 



PLANT BREEDING. 



The general question of the improvement of plants, or "plant 

 breeding," is a perennial one. Much of the work done at the 

 Station has never been published, but certain phases have been 

 touched upon. A general statement of the problem is given in 

 the Annual Report for 1893. 



From evidence at hand it appears that the secondary results 

 of crossing may be of fully as much importance as are directly 

 inherited qualities. Among these secondary effects are : The 

 possible immediate influence of pollen upon the mother plant; 

 the stimulating effect of pollen upon the ovary ; and the influ- 

 ence of varying amounts of pollen. In a few important species 

 there may be an immediate apparent effect of foreign pollen on 

 the female organism of the current generation, but the greater 

 portion of the food plants studied do not exhibit such eflfect. 

 That pollen has a direct stimulating effect upon the ovary, 

 independently of its action upon the ovules, seems a well estab- 

 lished fact. Variations in the amount of pollen available may, 

 to a large extent, determine the form and consequent value of 

 the fruits of some species. (Annual Report 1892.) 



